Cranking means for automobiles.



. J. B. CASTLE.

GRANKING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES.

. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1909.

Patented May 2, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. B. CASTLE.

GRANKING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SBPIH I, 1909.

Patented May 2,-1911.

J B. CASTLE. ORANKING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.7,1909.

991,135. Patent-edMay2,1911.

I s SHEETS-SHEET s. 1 3

TE STAES ATENT OFFICE.

JAMES B. CASTLE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR- 0F ONE-HALF TO I ROBERT S. MOORE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CRANKING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1911.

Application filed-September 7, 1909. Serial No. 516,321.

To all whom it may concern: g

Be it known that I, JAMns B. CASTLE, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the enabling the crank shaft to be operated orrotated to place into commission the motor of the car without requiring the driver to leave his seat, thus avoiding the annoyance of having to leave the car for the purpose of cranking the machine.

The device consists essentiallyof an operating lever located adjacent the seat of the driver so as to be in convenient reach of the hand, with suitable connections -for convert-- mg the reciprocating movement of the said lever intoa rotary motion of the crank shaft for operating'the engine, the connections being of such a character as to impart rotation to the crank shaft on movement of the operat n lever in either direction.

A ditionally, the invention also comprises means tobe hereinafter more fully explained for taking up the strains which otherwise would be placed onto the cranking mocha nism in case of a back explosion or firing of the engine during the cranking operation of the machine, thereby preventing a rupture or breakage of the working parts which otherwise would occur.

. To comprehend the invention, reference should'be had,to the accompanying sheets of drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a broken side elevationof an ordinary gasolene automobile with the in;- proved cranking means applied, thereto. Fig. 2 is a front view of the machine, illus trating in part the connection between the crank shaft and .the operating lever, also I the means for moving inwardly'the said crank shaft to place its inner end in clutch engagement with the engineshaft, and the connections .for imparting rotation to said crank shaft. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail longitudinal sectional view taken on line w-w, Fig. 4 of the drawings, the said View disclosing the casin 01' Shell for the work mg parts, the cra .shaftextended there-{.1v

through and the connection between the said crank shaft and the transmitting and driving means for imparting rotation thereto, the said shaft being illustrated in clutch engagement with the engine shaft. Fig. i is a front elevation of the casing or shell containing the transmitting mechanism and through which extends the crank shaft, the face or cover plate of the casing being removed to illustrate the drive connection betweenthe transmitting mechanism and the said crank shaft, also the means for releasing said drive connection on a back eX- plosion taking place to disconnect the crank shaft. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken on line y-y of Fig. 3 of the drawings, illustrating one of the reciprocating sectors and its connections for imparting rotary motion to the crank shaft. larged detail view of the actuating means for throwing the hinged cross rod for forcing inwardly the crankshaft to place the same in clutch engagement with the engine v shaft, the said hinged cross rod being illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the de-' pressed position of the trated in dotted lines.

Referring to Figs. 1,2 and 3 of the drawparts being lllusings, the numeral 1 is used'to designate any suitable form of a gasolene driven automobile, and 2 the-engine shaft located beneath the body thereof, which shaft carries at its forward end a clutch member 3, with "which engages the clutch member 4 of the crank shaft 5, when the said crank shaft is forced inwardly for 'th'e'cranking of the engine.

- Preferably, at the front of the car or auto-' mobile is situated a crank casing or shell 6, more fully understood by reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 6 of the drawings. Through this casing or shell 6 extends the crank shaft 5, on which is loosely mounted within the main body of the casing or shell 6 the sleeve 7 Figs. 3 .and 5.. of the drawings, which sleeve is formed with the ratchet ring extension 8. On the sleeve 7. is loos'elymounted, at each side of theratchet ring extensiont5, the hubs 9 9',' from which do end the sector extensions 10-10, each 0 the hubs 9-9 being locked to the said ring. extension 8 against 'movement inv one direction by means of a pawl 11, held intoen agement with the teeth flof the said ring by t e spring 12, Fig. 5 of the drawings. Only one of said: pawls 11 1s Fig. 6 is an enis carried by each of the hubs 9-9.

hubs 9-9 are held apart or separated by means of the ratchet ring extension 8, and each ofthe said hubs at their upper portion carry the rack segments 1212, between and in mesh with which works the bevel pin.-

-ion 13, which is mounted'in a bearing 13 of a-block l4, slidably mounted in a cut away portion 14" of the upper portion of the easing or shell 6, and which block is held normally in position by the spring 15.

The sleeve 7 screws into a cylindrical head 15', loosely fitted'within the centrally contracted portion of the casing or shell 6, the overhang 16 of which head encircles the enlarged portion 16 of the crank shaft 5, Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, and carries a pivoted dog 17 that engages with one of the notches 17 in the face of the enlar ed portion 16 of the said crank shaft, in order to hold the parts locked together so as to transmit the rotary movement of the head 15 to the crank shaft. Within the enlarged outer portion of the casing or shell 6, in which is located the extended or overhan portion 16 of the head'15, is snugly fitte the rack ring 17 the teeth of which are engaged by a pawl 18 pivoted to thepro-jecting head end 18 of the pivoted dog 17 the lower inwardly projecting end of which dog is held into en agement with one of the notches 17' t' he enlarged portion 16 of the crank shaft 5. The said pawl-18 is held normally outwardly pressed bv means of the spring 19, which is interposed between the said pawl and the head portion of the dog 17.

The outer or forward end portionof the jcrank-shaft 5 is extended through an aperture formed in the cap or cover plate 19,

i which cap-or cover plate is screwed onto the exteriorly screw-threaded portion 20 of the casing or shell 6, the said cap or cover plate bearing against the forward end of the overhang'or extended portion 16 of the head 15, and holding the same and its associated part-1s in proper position; The crank shaft 5is permitted slight longitudinal movement within the casing or shell, sufficient to place its clutch member 4 into and out 'of clutch engagement with the clutch member 3 of the engine shaft 2. The said crankshaft is forced inwardly to place its clutch member 4: into engagement with the clutch' member 3 of the engine shaft 2 by means of the-shifting rod 20, hinged at one side to' the front of the car, Fig. 2 of the drawings. This shifting rod is extended across the front of the machine, fitting within the circular groove 21 formed in the projectin end portion of the crank shaft 5, and the rec end of said rod is hinged to a longitudinally disposed draw rod 22, arranged at one side of the car, Fi s. 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings.

At its inner end this. .lraw' rod is hinged to one arm of a curved crank lever 22', which is pivoted to the side of the car. The opposite arm of said crank lever is situated in line' with a curved or segment shoe 23, carried by a vertically movable block 23', working in guides of a lever 24, and normally upheld by means of a spring 24, Fig. 6 of the drawings. To the slide block 23- is connected a link 25, the upper end of which is secured to the lower arm of a crank lever 25, pivoted to the lever 24 adjacent the'upper end thereof, Fig. l of the drawings. Underthis construction, as the upper arm of the crank lever 25 is drawn inwardly, the lower arm thereof is thrown downwardly, carrying therewith the link 25 and forcing downwardly the slide block 23 and its shoe 23,-

hinged shifting rod 20 to swing inwardly and force the crankshaft within the casing or shell 6, until its clutch member 4; isplaced into engagement with the clutch member 3 of the engine shaft 2, Fig. 3 of the drawings. The parts are then positioned for imparting rotation. to the crank shaft, to actuate the engine shaft. v

The hand lever24, which is located so as to be within convenient reach of the driver of the machine or car, Figs. 1 and2 of the drawings, is employed for the purpose of operating the crank shaft to crank the engine of the car. This lever at its lower end is connectedto the frame of the car by means of a short rock shaft 26, which carries a segment gear 26, with which meshes a pinion 27 on the inner end of a longitudinally disposed shaft 28, working in bearings on the frame of the car. The said shaft 28 projects a slight distance beyond the front of the car, and has secured on the projecting end thereof the grooved pulley wheels or sheaves. 29-29, to which are attached respectively the cords of chains 30- -30', the free ends of which are connect ,3030 and unwind the opposing or companion one, which acts to exert a pulling strain on one of the sectorssaysector 10' and release its companion sector 10. As sector l0.is drawn over in the direction of the arrow, Fig. of the drawings, its hub 9 is rotated and carrying therewith the quadrant rack 12 imparts rotation to the pinion 13, which pinion coacting with the companion quadrant rack 12, throws the same and its hub 9 and depending sector 10 in an opposite direction to that imparted to the sector 10 and its'associate parts. During this stroke or throw of the sector lO, its pawl 11 being in locked engagement with the ratchet ring 8 of the sleeve 7, imparts rotation to the said ring 8 and to the head 16 carried thereby, which, in turn, through the medium of the engaging dog 17, transmits rotation or rotary motion to crankshaft 5, which, being in clutch with the engine shaft 2, operates to impart rotation to the said shaft of;the engine for the cranking thereof.

On the hand lever 24 being thrown rearwardly, a reverse rotation is transmitted to the shaft 28 and the pulleys 2929', which winds the chain or cord 30, to exert a pulling strain on. the sector 10 and. release the chain or cord 30. During this rotation vofv the shaft 28, the sector 10 is thrown in an opposite direction to that previously described, its hub 9 turning therewith, and the quadrant rack 12 actuating the pinion 13 to impart an opposite throw to the quadrant rack 12, the pawl of its hub 9'. slipping over the teeth of the ratchet extension 8. On. this and prevent iniiiry stroke of the quadrant rack 12, the pawl 11 of its hub 9 is in locked engagement with the said extension 8, the motion'ther eof being transmitted to impart rotation to the saidratchet and its sleeve portion 7,, and to the head15 carried thereby, which acts to impart rotation to the crank shaft as previously described. Thus, with each reciprocating stroke of the hand lever 24, motion is transmitted for impartingrotation to the crank shaft 5, the position of the sectors 10 l0 and their associate parts varying with respect to one another, on each stroke of the said hand lever. The sectors 10-10 and their associate parts may be considered and treated as sectioni zed transmitting mechanism, the pinion 13, the shifting means.

for positioning the opposingsections of the transmitting mechanism, sleeve 7, head15' and do 17 as the drive mechanism for the" crank s aft 5.

During the operation of cranking a car, it frequently happens that a back explosion or firing of the engine takes place, which throws the crank shaft suddenly in an opposite di rection. To take care mechanism, the pawl 18, Fig. 4 of the drawings', is provided, which pawl acts to automatlcally release the do 17 from locked engagement with the sect-1on'16 of the crank shaft 5, the same operating in the followin manner :-As the strain of the engine sha t is thrown onto the crank shaft 5 on a back and the ratchet 8,

of this back kick resulting to the cranking explosion occurring, a pull is exerted on the dog 17, tending to rotate the head 16 in an opposite direction to that imparted thereto during the cranking operation. Inasmuch as the head of the dog 17 is held against reverse rotation by being locked to the immovable rack ring 17 bythe pawl 18, the strain exerted thereon is transferred onto the said pawl 18, which acts as a lever to gradually force inwardly the head end of the pivoted rupture the same. This back lash is taken care of by permitting a slight movementor play to fall onto the slide .block 14, which is slidable in the opening 14 of the casing or shell 6, Fig. 5 of the drawings,the movement of which is resistedundernor- .mal working conditions by means of the spring 15. The slight play or give thus permitted the interlocked working .parts, allows for the backfire or explosion of'the engine without rupture to the working parts, inasmuch as the lock connection with the crank shaft is broken or destroyed automatically by the reverse strains placed onto the dog 17. On the' cranking of the engine of the car, the clutch member 4 of the crank shaft 5 is' gradually forced outwardly to release the said shaft from clutch engagement with the clutch of the crank shaft 5, thus .careof, else the initial strains falling onto such parts, if held immovable, would tend to back lash occasioned: -by a member 3 of the engine shaft 2. This movement of the crank shaft throws forwardly the hinged shifting rod 20 and pulls forwardly the draw rod 22, while at the same timethe pressure of the spring 24 raises the slide block 23, to restore the link 25. and crank lever 25 to normal position.

I amaware that changes may be made in the various working parts herein-described forthe carrying out of the invention and Y thiswithout creating a departure therefrom, and therefore I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the construction and arrangement of coacting working parts illustrated in the drawings accompanying the filing of the present application.

Having thus described the invention and the construction of working parts for successfullycarrying. out the same, what is claimed as new and-desired, to be protected by Letters Patent is 1. In-anautomobile, the combination with the shaftfor crankin the engine, a pivoted hand lever located ad acent the drivers seat,

drive mechanism under the control of the hand lever for imparting. rotation to the cranking shaft on each strokeof the hand gexplosion of the engine.

lever, a .lever adjacent the drivers seat for imparting longitudinal movement to the crank shaft for placing, the same into clutch engagement with the engine shaft and means for automatically disconnecting the cranking shaft from the drive mechanism on aback 2. In an automobile, the combination with a cranking shaft having a limited longitudinal movement, a clutch member'carried by the inner end thereof for engagement with the clutch member of an engine shaft, means operatable from a position adjacent the drivers seat of the automobile for shifting inwardly the cranking shaft to place the same into clutch engagement with the shaft of the engine to be cranked, and mechanism for automatically disconnecting the crankshaft from its drive means on a back explosion of the engine.

3. In'an automobile, the combination with a'cranking shaft having a limited slidable movement, adraw rod for moving the same inwardly, connection between said rod and the cranking shaft, a pivoted crank lever for operating. the draw rod, hand controlled mechanism for swinging said crank lever to inwardly move the draw rod, and'tension means for restoringrthe. hand controlled mechanism to normal position.

4. In an apparatus for the described ur-' pose, the combination with a crank sha t, a shell or casing through which the same works, a plurality of oppositely movable gear or rack members arranged within the casing, apinion intermeshing therewith, a

ratchet loose on the crank shaft and with which said members are held in locked engagement against. relative movement in one direction, connections between the loose ratchet and the crank shaft for imparting rotation thereto, and means controlled from the drivers seat of an automobile for actuating gear or rack members to impart rotation thereto.

5. In cranking means for; gasolene cars, the combination with a supporting shell .or casing, a crank shaft working therein, a

sleeve within the casing through which the' said shaft extends, a ratchet section on said sleeve, oppositely movable drive members for imparting rotation to the sleeve through its ratchet section, connection between the said sleeve and the crank shaftto impart rotation thereto, and means controlled from the body ofthecar adjacent the drivers seat for actuating the drive members to rotate the crank shaft.

6. In cranking means for gasolene cars,

the combination with a supporting shell or casing, a crank shaft extended therethrongh, oppositely movable rack members working within the casing, a pinion interposed between said members and meshing therewith,

a spring held slide block for said pinion, connection between the rack members and the crank shaft for imparting rotation thereto,

within the casing forimparting rotation to the crank shaft, devices controlled from the body of the car for placing the crank shaft in clutch with the engines shaft, mechanism controlled from the body of the car adjacent the drivers seat for imparting motionto the drive means, and means for automatically disconnecting the crank shaft from the drive means on a back explosion of the engine being cranked. a

8. In a gasolene car, thecombination with a casing or shell, a crank shaft. extended therethrough and rotatable therein, sectors extended below the casing, a longitudinally disposed rock shaft, connections between said shaft and the sectors for alternately exerting a pulling strain 'thereon,,means within thecasing for shifting one of the sectors in an opposite direction to that in which the companion sector is movedby the rock shaft, mechanism acted on within the casing for imparting rotation to 'the crank shaft on each throw of the sectors by rock shaft, and a hand operated lever adjacent the drivers seat'for actuating the rock shaft.

In testimony whereof I'have signed my name to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES B. CASTLE.

Witnesses: N. A. AcKER. D. B. Rrcrnmns.

Gnpies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the G ommissioner of Patents,

. 'Washington, D. 0. 

